Talks.cam

What is going on with large-scale structure cosmology? - Ian McCarthy
2026-01-22 16:00 - 17:00 UTC | Hoyle Lecture Theatre, Institute of Astronomy
The way matter is distributed on large scales is strongly sensitive to many key questions cosmologists have about the Universe, including what are the natures of dark matter and dark energy, what were the initial conditions of the Universe, and is gravity adequately described by General Relativity on all scales? The quantity, quality, and variety of observations of large-scale structure is presently undergoing a revolution, allowing us to test the standard model of cosmology and its possible extensions to levels of accuracy not previously possible. So far, a mixed picture is emerging where some tests appear perfectly consistent with the standard model while others show varying levels of tension. Key in this discussion are the theoretical predictions used to interpret the observational measurements in terms of cosmology. In this talk, I will summarise some of the current findings and discuss important systematic uncertainties on the theoretical modelling side. I will then discuss some avenues for future progress required to maximise the cosmological constraining power of forthcoming Stage IV surveys.
